Chess Puzzle #NRFK2 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen c4; rooks h6/h7; knight f4; pawns a2/b4/c2. Black: king g5; queen b6; rooks f5/f8; bishop d7; pawns a3/b7/c6/e4/f6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf4 — king g5→f4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh4+ — rook h6→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke5 (king f4→e5).
3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen c4→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e5→d6).
4. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e4→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d6→c7).
5. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen e7→d7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c7→b8).
6. Best move: Qxf5 — queen d7→f5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/1p1b3R/1qp2p1R/5rk1/1PQ1pN2/p7/P1P3K1/8 b - - 0 35

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